Embedded deep within downtown La Conner is a new Italian restaurant that goes by the name Moltobello Ristorante Italiano. There’s nothing like an authentic, locally-owned and run restaurant, with Italian food that is bursting with flavor in a cozy setting with soft lighting. As their website says, Moltobello has “no attitude” and “just great Italian food.” David Kas,…
Taxidermy art. Vintage goods and oddities. Potion bottles and antique uranium glass juicers. Nothing combines witchy and whimsy better than Morii Mercantile, created in 2024 by Katie Donner after noticing a lack of spooky goods quite like hers in Bellingham. Photograph by Katie Donner “I haven’t seen many people locally doing my kind of art. I’ve mostly seen it other places online, and I feel like Bellingham is, in general,…
Death in the Afternoon is a hauntingly strong cocktail with an eerie green hue and black licorice flavor. Rather than being fruity, candy-themed, or ornately garnished (as many Halloween drinks are), this drink captures its spectral appearance and distinct flavor with just two ingredients: absinthe and Champagne. Photograph by Kristen Boehm It was fathered by Ernest Hemingway, shares a name with one of his novels, and first appeared in 1935’s “So Red the Nose…
For Shelly Whan and Kelly Fellers, dance has never been just about pirouettes, pointe shoes, or polished performances. It’s been about community, friendship, and building a second home for generations of Skagit Valley families. Photograph courtesy of Skagit Valley Academy of Dance This year, the lifelong friends…
There’s a new destination for barbecue lovers in Lynden, and the experience goes well beyond the smoker. Rustic Bar & Grill opened for business on May 13 at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, adding an elegance to Whatcom County’s dining scene. The…
Some houses have very strong identities. This bright blue home is one of those houses, appearing like a bright tropical fish with rooflines reminiscent of gills. Those rooflines are responsible for a very calm, 100% daylit interior. Legend Homes (formerly TC Legend Homes) has been building solar-powered homes in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, and with more Department of…
Fairhaven Mill recently welcomed Philip Fraley as the new general manager. The Mill has been an active, organic mill since 1974, serving businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Fraley has an extensive background in product management with 23 years of experience at Omega Nutrition and, most recently, Birdon America. He has over 25 years of experience running certified organic operations and brings an experienced viewpoint to the team. Since Fraley has become…
As autumn settles over the waterfront, the Blaine OysterFest returns to celebrate the city’s aquaculture roots on Oct. 10. “It’s a very hometown fair kind of vibe with the seafood and harbor feeling to it. It’s a lot of fun,” says…
ReLaced, located in downtown Bellingham, prioritizes selling new, used, authentic, and well-made shoes to sneakerheads at great prices. The Shop This family-run streetwear shoe store, founded and owned by Lidija and Jesse Reading, first opened in March 2024 on Bay Street. In May, the business moved to a place on Holly Street. Helped by their central location and friendly demeanor, more and more people have been discovering ReLaced, and it’s fast becoming a beloved staple of…
Since Time Immemorial is a recurring series featuring community members whose families have been here since time immemorial. The ancestral knowledge carried by Lhaq’temish (Lummi), Nooksack, and other Coast Salish…
For more than 30 years, the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour has been a fall cultural highlight in which artists around Whatcom County open their studios to the public. Taking place this year on October…
September is a time of natural bounty and abundance here in the Pacific Northwest. From ripe tomatoes at farmers’ markets to fresh seafood to the first harvest of apples, this season is one of celebration and appreciation. In fact, September is officially Eat Local Month in the state of Washington! It’s a time when…
